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No. 574,445. Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

VWITIJESEEE I lldvaplTmF-x UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

\YILLIAM EMERY NICKERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEXV ENGLAND lVElGHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATlC WEIGHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,445, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed June 22, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM EMERY N ICK- ERSON, of Cambridge. in the county of Middle sex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Weighing Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a complete apparatus adapted to weigh automatically and accurately granular or other material, either for the purpose of registerin g the amount which passes through or for dividing it into lots of a precisely uniform I 5 weight.

My apparatus consists principally of two separate scales, through whose automatic cooperation rapidity, accuracy, and regularity of weighing are secured. One of these scales,

which I call the primary, is adapted to receive a comparatively large stream of material from a suitable conveying-pipe, and when a predetermined amount, by weight, has run into it to shutoff the stream and retain the weighed charge until its delivery is brought about by an action of its companion scale, after which the primary scale refills and holds its load as before. The charge delivered by the primary scale is weighed with only mod- 0 crate accuracy on account of the supply stream being large. It is always somewhat less than the full amount desired to be put into the lot or package and passes from the primary into its companion scale, which I 5 call the secondary.

The secondary scale is constructed with a view to greater sensitiveness than the primary, and besides receiving the material delivered by the latter, whose action it induces by a suitable mechanism, has an independent source of supply consisting of a small stream of the material which is fed directly into it and serves to increase the charge delivered by the primary scale to the full and accurate amount required. In other words, the primary scale by operating in connection with a large stream can rapidlydeliver an approximately-weighed amount somewhat less than the full weight to the sensitive secondary Serial No. 596,488. (No model.)

scale, in which the full and exact weight is quickly made up by the small stream.

By the cooperation of myprimary and secondary scales far more satisfactory results are obtained than by dumping a quantity of material measured by bulk into an automatic scale and making up the full load by a small stream. Most granular substances, for the weighing of which automatic scales are cominercially used, vary so much in specific gravity in different samples and even in dif- 6o ferent measures full that the margin left for the small stream to make up is very inconstant, and the rate of weighing therefore very irregular, frequent adjustments being required. By the use, however, of my coinbination great accuracy, rapidity, and regularity are readily obtained.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows my complete apparatus in front elevation. Fig. 2 shows certain parts in a different position. Fig. 3 also shows parts in a different position. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, but showing certain parts in a position different from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section of the secondary scale in in the position which it occupies just before the discharge of a weighing-bucket. Fig. 6 is a view of the secondary scale, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, showing one of the weighing-buckets in the act of discharging its load. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the secondary scale, especially showing the mechanism for shifting the swinging chute. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the secondary scale. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 00 so of Fig. 5, and especially shows a part of the chute-shifting o mechanism. Fig. 10 is a perspective viewof the swinging chute and tip. Fig. 11 is aside elevation of the primary scale and connected parts. Fig. 12 is a plan of the weighted beam of the primary scale detached from connected 5 parts. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the end knife-blocks. Fig. M is an enlarged view of the central knife-blocks.

.i will iirst describe the secont'lary or accn lately-weighing scale, in which A represents the principal frameworlcand A the top frame, upon which the scale-beam. chute, weightarms and weights,and immediately-connccted parts are supported. ll and ii are the weighing-buckets, which depend from either end of the ring-shaped scale-beam is by means of the standards 1) and o. The buckets l3 and 13 are provided withthe discharge-doors D D and 1) fl), which are held in their closed position by the latches (Z (l and d" d", the pressure of the charge within causing them to open whenever the latches are disengaged, thus allowing the charges to fall into the door-boxes E and it, located beneath the doors and into which the doors project somewhat. The doors I) l) and D l) are so hung upon their pivots (Z (I and d d as to close by their gravity when not impeded, and are provided upon their lower edges with the wing-pieces (Z (.Z and (Z d, which extend downward into the boxes E and E, Fig. (5, and cooperate with the latter in preventing the retention of any partot the escapingload by premature closing. This action oi the wing-pieces is produced by the pressure of the load against them,pi.essing them outward, since it is somewhat: checked in passing through the box, holding them in this position and the doors open until all the load has fallen below the lower edges of the doors themselves.

The scale-beam S oscillates centrally by means of the knit'eedgcs s s upon the balanced. knife-blocks F i one at frontand one at the back of the scale, which are mounted upon the pins F E, Fig. Ll, arranged at right angles to the line of their knife-edges, whereby they are free to aline themselves with the latter. The scale-beam carries at its outer ends the knife-edges s and .s-'-, upon which bear the knife-blocks 'l" F located in the standardshandl),respcctively. These knife blocks are pivoted in the standards upon the pins and f which extend at right angles to the line of their respective kniie-cdgcs, thereby allowing the said knife-blocks to perfectly conform to their knite-edgcs. The knife-blocks F F are shown in enlarged section in Fig. lit, and the blocks F and l are illustrated by Fig. 13.

The tops of the standards I) and h are provided with the steel caps t and if, which serve as contact-surfaces tor the knife-edges r/ and g, lixcd in the pivoted weight-arms G and G, res-: 'ieetively. These weight-arms, which are fully described in my Patent No. 555,303, are provided with the upright rods and g, which serve as supports for the main wcighingweights W and W and the adjusting-weights J J and .l .1, respectively. The downward movement of the wcight-arms G- and G is limited by the cross-bars A and A, extending from front to back upon the top frame A. The weight-arms rest upon these cross-beams when not raised by the standziri'ls l) and h, and each weight-arm opposes the charge in the weighlug-bucket on the opposite side of the i'm'tchinc.

Atthe upper part of the top frame AK and extending from front to back is a perforated cross-beam 1 supporting upon its upper side the delivering-pipe l. and carrying upon its under side the chute C, which is pivoted to it, as shown at C. At the lower end of the chute C and pivoted to it, as shown at r, is the chute-tip 0, provided with the arm 0-, preferably carrying the weight 0". The arm 0* OUQIIQQS with a lixcd pin 0, lll'OjtJClllitl' inwardly from the top frame A at a level. somewhat above the pivot ol' the chute tip (1, whereby a comparativelyslight oscillation olj' the chute C causes a greater incline in. the chutetip. In Fig. 10 the chute and lip are shown in perspective detached from the scale.

l rom front to back through the top l'ramc A, one on either side of the chute (l, pass two rockcr-shalj'ts It and ill, l igs. 5 and t These shafts are provided with the luiucklc-joints K and K, respectively, connected with the chute as shown, so that by a partial. rolation of the rocker-shat't whose knUckIe-jr. int is straight, the other one being bout, the chute is pulled over, the joint which was straight becoming bent, while the bent joint straightcns and locksthc chute in its new po sition. The roclu3r-shalts are provided at their rear ends with the arms lt and it", l ig. 7, to which are attached the ull.-wircs r and 1', which are preferably deflected into aline ment by the guiding-arnn-s r and r and are connected at their lower ends with the bent arms '6 and. Z Figs. 7 and o. 'ihcsc armst and I are loosely mounted upon the horizontal shai't F, which is suppmtcd upon the bark of themain frame, as shown. The lower ends oi. the arms t and l. engage as required with the ends ol the bent arms T T, l igs. :3, 7, S, and ll), and T T, which are lnounlotl. upon. the standards 1"" T" and T T. The inner ends ol the arms T T and T T cxlcni'l. horizontally along the sides ol the doors I) i) and D 1), Fig. l), but not in contact with them when the latter are closed. The doors upon opening in their turn come in contact with the inner ends of the arms T and T T, respectively, throwing them outward and. causing their opposite ends to engage with. the bent arms I or t, as the case may be, and. operating through them the pulhwircs rand r, and the rocker-shafts ill. and Pt throw the chute from one side to the other-as required.

Located above the secont'lary scale is the primary scale, Figs. 1, 32, l-, and .l l, having a weighing-bra n1 fllnnountcd upon the supporting-frame N. The beam Bl (shown detachci'l in plan in Fig. 12) carries upon its outcrcnd the weights oz. and lit and supports by the knife-edges ll. Ill. upon its inner and bil'urcated end. the weighiiig bucket O. The bucket O is p'rovidtnl with the discha rge-doors O O and a doonbox 0' essentiallylilccthose in the secondary scale. Over the wcig|1ingbucket O is mounted a supply-hopper H, having a downwardly-projecting delivering-pipe H, upon which is mounted the swinging shutoff piece 72 preferably counterbalanced,which is pivoted to the pipe H at h. This shut-off piece is opened and closed by the action of the slotted arm h attached to it, and the arm M which is fixed to the weighing-beam M, whereby a downward movement of the illner or bucket-supporting end of the weighing-beam closes the shut-off piece and the return or upward movement opens it again. Upon the supporting-frame N is pivoted the balanced arm N, whose inner end is adapted upon an upward movement to release the latches O O of the doors 0 O of the bucket O. The outer end of the arm N is connected with the shaft L of the secondary scale by means of the wires N N 2 and centrally-mounted arm L so that a rotation of the said shaft L in either direction will cause the releasing; of the latches O O and consequent opening of the doors 0' O of the bucket O. A limited rotary movement is given to the shaft L, when required, by means of the centrally-dependent flap L, which is attached to it and extends downward into the discharge-hopper U, as shown. Upon a discharge of a load from either bucket of the secondary scale the falling material presses the dependent flap L over to the opposite side, and operating through the shaft L and one or the other of the pull-wires N N and arm N causes the tripping of the latches O O and a fresh discharge from the bucket O of the primary scale.

Located at some distance below the discharge-hopper U of the secondary scale is the balanced arm V, carrying the catchbucket V, and upon its opposite end the weight V all being supported upon the standard V Fig. l. The balanced arm V is connected by means of a pullwire V or other suitable mechanism with a shut-off device V located in the feed-pipe V, as shown, said pipe being adapted to deliver a small stream to the secondary scale, so that if material discharged from said scale is not proper] y received in receptacles it will, by falling into the catch-bucket 'V, overbalance the weight V and by tilting the arm V operate through the wire V and shut-off device V to interrupt the supply of material and prevent further discharges, Fig. 3.

Starting with the bucket O of the primary scale containing a load and in the position shown in Fig. 1,the shut-off piece h blocking the flow of material from the pipe H and with the small stream from the pipe V running into the weighing-bucket B of the secondary scale, the said bucket containing nearly a full charge, the operation will be as follows: hen the full amount has accumulated in the weighing-bucket B, it will raise its relative weight W and descend, Fig. 6, disengaging the door-latches d d at the latter part of its downward movement. The charge within it will then force open the doors D D with considerable power, Fig. 6, and the latter will, by engaging with them, force the arms T T apart. The inward movement of their opposite ends operating through the bent lever t and pull-wire 0' will cause a partial rotation of the arm R and rocker-shaft R, thereby doubling up the knuckle-joint K, Fig. 6, and swing the chute C and chute-tip 0 over the other weighing-bucket B, when it will be held by the knuckle-joint K which has straightened. Upon the opening of the doors D D the charge of material falls into the door-box E, where it acts upon the doorwings d d and holds the doors open until all the material has passed below them into the door-box, and upon passing out of the latter will allow the doors to close and latch. The material further descending into the discharge-hopper U will act upon the dependent flap L, forcing it over into the position shown in Fig. 6, and cause by its movement through the sh aft L, arm L pullwi re N an d balanced arm N the releasement of the latches O O of the doors 0 O of the bucket 0, Fig. 2, whereupon a fresh quantity of material, some what less in amount than a full charge for the secondary scale, descends from the primary scale into the weighing-bucket B. The bucket O of the primary scale, now empty, rises by the action of the weights m m and comes into the position shown in Fig. 4, the shut-off piece h being opened by the act-ion of the arm M and arm ha. The material now runs from the supply-bin H into the bucket 0 until the quantity is sufficient to overbalance the weights on an, upon which the bucket 0 again descends, raising the weights m m and throwing the shut-off piece 7L under the pipe II, thereby cutting off the flow of material from the supply-bin II. The primary scale is now ready to again discharge its load into the secondary scale upon the tripping of the door-latches O O as before. In the meantime the small stream from the supplypipe V is running into the weighing-bucket B of the secondary scale, which, when the required quantity has accumulated, will descend and the foregoing operation will be repeated, but by the complementary parts.

If the receptacles into which the secondary scale discharges are not presented as required, the charge will fall into the catch-bucket V and, overbalancin g the weight V will cause the balance-beam V to oscillate, and, acting through the pull-wire V, close the shutoff device V and stop the small stream flowing through the pipe V and bring the apparatus to rest. (See Fig. 3.)

I claim- 1. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, in combination, two separate scales, a primary and a secondary, arranged and cooperating as follows first a primary scale adapted to receive a comparatively large stream of material and to cut off said stream after having weighed out therefrom with approximate accuracy a charge somewhat less than a full weight for said secondary scale; and said primary scale being adapted to retain said charge until an action ol. the said secondary scale causes its discharge and then to deliver it to said secondary scale; and said primary scale having alatch device for dischargingit, suit;- ably connectedwithsaid secondaryscalc; and said primary scale being adapted to aut omatically relill from the said large stream whenover it has been emptied; and second, a sec ondary scale, adapted to r ceive the charge from said primary scale, and to also receive a small stream of material to make up a full and accurate weight; and said secondary scale having a suitable mechanism connected with the latch mechztuism ol' the said primary scale whereby the said primary scale is discharged into the secondary scale upon each discharge ol. the latter; means for delivering a small stream into the secondary scale; connecting mechanism between the primary and secondary scales and means for suy'iplying material to said primary scale, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating weighingbuckets provided with disclntrge-doors having latches, said doors being adapted to be forced open by the pressure of the charge in the bucket when their latches are released, a chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other, connecting mechanism by which the opening of the doors ol. each bucket alternately actuates the chute toward the opposite bucket, and a suitably-arranged scale-beam, weights and connected parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for autonnttic weighing, a scale having two alternating weighingbuckets and a delivery-chute adapted to oscillate lrom onebucket to the other, the combination of the chute 0, kn tickle-joints K and K, rocker-shafts It and It, mechanism for causing a partial rotation of the said shal'ts alternately upon the descent of the weighingbucket, and a suitably-arranged scale-beam, weights and connected parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

t. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating weighingbuckets, a chuteadapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other, and said weighing-buckets having doors provided with latches, and said doors being adapted to be forced open by the charge of material in the buckets when said latches are released; in combination with the pivoted arms 1 'l and T '1", said arms being out of contact with said doors when the latter are in their closed position, mechanism connecting said arms with the delivery-elude, whereby the opening of the doors causes the chute to swing over the alternate bucket, and a suitablyarrailged scale-beam, weights, and connected parts, substantially as and tor the purpose set forth.

5. In z'tnapparatus t'orautomatic weighing, a scale having two alternating weighing buckets and a delivery-chute adapted to oscillate from one bucket to the other, and said buckets having doors Lrovided. with latches and said 'doors being adapted, when said latches are released, to be forced open by the charge in the buckets; the combination of the chute t the knuckle-joints I11 and it, rocker shafts It and It, the pull-wires r and r, the bent arms '1. T and 'l" 'I", the arms [and f, and a suitably-arranged scale-beam, weights and connected parts, all operating together as described, substantially as and tor the purpose set forth.

(5. In an apparatustot-automatic weighing, a scale having two alternating weighingbuckets, a suitably-arranged scale-beam and weights, and adelivering-chute adapttal to oscillate from one bucket to the other, the combination ol? the chute (I, the chute-tip c, the arm c", and the lixed pin c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus [or automatic weighing, ineombination,a primary scalehavinglatches for discharging it; with asecontflary scalehaving the hopper U and centrally-hung llap ll, said l'lap being adapted to be swungeatdl. way alternately by the discharge of the secom'lary scale as shown, and suitable mechanism connecting the said llap with said latches, sub stantially as and for the purpose set l'orth.

S. In an apparatus for automatic weighing, a primary scale embodying the following elements viz: a weighingbucket having discharge -doors held closed by latches, and adapted to descend to the limit of its movement when loaded and to retain its charge until said latches are released, a weighted weighing-beam adapted to Sl'lPlHJl'll said bucks et, a feed-pipe having a shntsol'li mechanism adapted to close said pipe on a descent ol' said bucket, mechanism [or eonnectingsaid shutol't with said beam whereby a descent ot' said bucket may close said shut-oil? and mechanism adapied to release said latches when re quired, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereol. I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence elf two subscribing witnesses, on this with day of June, A. D. 1890. 

